Hello one and all! Sorry it's been almost all of February and I haven't written a thing. As per request, at the end of this entry are plenty of new pics of many things, including my neighborhood in the cold.
I am very glad to be writing to you once again. A lot has happened. It got cold, and I mean really cold, then lightened up a bit. It's still cold, but man ... it was bad! Look at the picture at the top of the blog. Does it look cold? IT IS!
But enough about the weather. I went ice skating again, this time at Park of Culture, formerly Park of Maxim Gorky, and that open air skating rink is the best in Europe. It was awesome! Finally I had a great time. Pasha and I bought thick wool socks off a babushka standing on the street just before going, and no more bruised ankles. It was cold, but not freezing. If you keep moving, you'll be o.k. We got there a little earlier. We skated from 5 to 8, with a break in between for hot chocolate or tea. There are pathways there; it's not just one big open field to skate on. There are many pathways, wide enough for four or five people across, and each with a controlled one-way direction. I fell many, many times, in painful and scary and comical and joyful ways, because of myself and because of others. But it was so worth it.
Fur and dressing for the cold
I wear at least 3 layers on bottom and four on top when I go outside - stockings, stretch pants, pajama pants, jeans, etc., and undershirt, shirt, sweater, coat, plus scarves, shawls, hats, more scarves, and gloves. Dressing and undressing for outside/inside is a bit of a time-consumer. When we dress the children at work to go outside (on days when we can - sometimes it's too cold) - it takes 15-20 minutes depending on how many kids and how quickly and effectively we all work. And then we go outside for 15, lol. You want to of course, little by little let them start doing it themselves, but sometimes you just want to get it over with. Sometimes they want to do it themselves and that is good. But it means you have to wait while they try and then try to get them to let you do it.
Russians wear fur. And heals. I wear whatever's warmest and most comfortable. Pasha's mom today said I look like a gnome all dressed up to go outside. Yes, I usually look funny, I said. Oh, you did it on purpose? No, no, it's just my style. Hmm. You have a "gnome style." .... Wow. Guess I have a "gnome style."
About Russians wearing fur, it's true. I watch them go by in the metro and about one in every three women is wearing it. A good fur coat, or shuba, costs about $3000, and of course you can always find them for more expensive if you like. They are made of wild animals of all sorts, including fox, mink and beaver, and Pasha said they are sometimes made from rabbit and died to look like some wild animal, then sold for more. When I see Russian ladies walking around in this, I think they look like walking beasts, especially the large ones, especially from behind. There go some big bears, people in wolf's clothing. It's kind of strange. I just wonder how they keep warm in those things! They kind of blouse out, letting air in underneath (it seems to me,) and the crazies wear skirts and stockings in this weather. How do they do that???
We've recently celebrated a non-Russian holiday, St. Valentine's Day, and a Russian one right after it on the 23rd, men's day. International women's day is March 8th, a much bigger deal, but Russians also celebrate men's day. Some younger Russians don't like this holiday because it started as honoring those who serve, all the military, although there are women who serve as well. But it ended up as men's day, by changing times and changing politics. It's customary to congratulate the men in your life, wish them happy men's day and tell them what they mean to you, and give a little gift or two. I gave Pasha opera tickets and made him dinner :)
Here are some pics!! Enjoy
And then I use the key to our apartment, one out of four behind this big heavy door. But we didn't photograph that for some reason. You guys have already seen the apartment inside. Best wishes to all of you, can't wait til I come back this summer. Only 4 months left! My Russian is getting better, however slowly. Love and prayers,
-Beth
I am very glad to be writing to you once again. A lot has happened. It got cold, and I mean really cold, then lightened up a bit. It's still cold, but man ... it was bad! Look at the picture at the top of the blog. Does it look cold? IT IS!
But enough about the weather. I went ice skating again, this time at Park of Culture, formerly Park of Maxim Gorky, and that open air skating rink is the best in Europe. It was awesome! Finally I had a great time. Pasha and I bought thick wool socks off a babushka standing on the street just before going, and no more bruised ankles. It was cold, but not freezing. If you keep moving, you'll be o.k. We got there a little earlier. We skated from 5 to 8, with a break in between for hot chocolate or tea. There are pathways there; it's not just one big open field to skate on. There are many pathways, wide enough for four or five people across, and each with a controlled one-way direction. I fell many, many times, in painful and scary and comical and joyful ways, because of myself and because of others. But it was so worth it.
Fur and dressing for the cold
I wear at least 3 layers on bottom and four on top when I go outside - stockings, stretch pants, pajama pants, jeans, etc., and undershirt, shirt, sweater, coat, plus scarves, shawls, hats, more scarves, and gloves. Dressing and undressing for outside/inside is a bit of a time-consumer. When we dress the children at work to go outside (on days when we can - sometimes it's too cold) - it takes 15-20 minutes depending on how many kids and how quickly and effectively we all work. And then we go outside for 15, lol. You want to of course, little by little let them start doing it themselves, but sometimes you just want to get it over with. Sometimes they want to do it themselves and that is good. But it means you have to wait while they try and then try to get them to let you do it.
Russians wear fur. And heals. I wear whatever's warmest and most comfortable. Pasha's mom today said I look like a gnome all dressed up to go outside. Yes, I usually look funny, I said. Oh, you did it on purpose? No, no, it's just my style. Hmm. You have a "gnome style." .... Wow. Guess I have a "gnome style."
About Russians wearing fur, it's true. I watch them go by in the metro and about one in every three women is wearing it. A good fur coat, or shuba, costs about $3000, and of course you can always find them for more expensive if you like. They are made of wild animals of all sorts, including fox, mink and beaver, and Pasha said they are sometimes made from rabbit and died to look like some wild animal, then sold for more. When I see Russian ladies walking around in this, I think they look like walking beasts, especially the large ones, especially from behind. There go some big bears, people in wolf's clothing. It's kind of strange. I just wonder how they keep warm in those things! They kind of blouse out, letting air in underneath (it seems to me,) and the crazies wear skirts and stockings in this weather. How do they do that???
We've recently celebrated a non-Russian holiday, St. Valentine's Day, and a Russian one right after it on the 23rd, men's day. International women's day is March 8th, a much bigger deal, but Russians also celebrate men's day. Some younger Russians don't like this holiday because it started as honoring those who serve, all the military, although there are women who serve as well. But it ended up as men's day, by changing times and changing politics. It's customary to congratulate the men in your life, wish them happy men's day and tell them what they mean to you, and give a little gift or two. I gave Pasha opera tickets and made him dinner :)
Here are some pics!! Enjoy
At the New Tretyakovskaya Gallery:
On the bridge at Park Cultury
Over the Moscow River
Riding in a marshrutka home - views of the streets
My neighborhood - right in front of my building. Winter view.
I am pointing to my building. The little store right next door.
My entrance to the house
First I press the round key and it beeps...
Then I take the elevator...
Then I use the heavy key....
-Beth
